Ignition device



Sept- 10; 1929- L. R. wlLDER 1,727,848

INI'i-Iou DEvIcE FileavApril zen, 192e s sheets-sheet 1 L. R. wiLDERsept, 1o; 1929. IGNITIOH DEV-ICE Filed April 29.".1926

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept'. 10, 1929.

.UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE."

LAURENCE R. WILDER, F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIG-NOR TO SCINTILITA. MAGNETOCOM- PANY, INC., OF SIDNEY, NEW YORK,` A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

IGNITION DEVICE.

Application filed April 29, 1926. Serial No.' 105,409.

This invention has to do with the ignition 1 of internal combustionengines of motorvehicles. v

The advantages 'of magneto ignition for 5 motor vehicles are quitegenerally recognized,

and have been utilized 'throughout the development of the automotiveindustry. In the great bulk of present day automobiles however, batteryand lcoil ignition systems are employed. -Various factors havecontributed to this general adoption of that form of ignition. Amongsuch factors may be named the extended use of electrical energy.. inautomobiles forv lighting 'and operation of starting 1' motors, theapparent duplication of expense resulting from the use of both magnetofor ignition and battery system for other electrical power use,mechanical diiiculties involved in the operation of magnetos at adersired speed relative to the engine speed, and conservation of spaceand weight. L The ordinary battery and coil ignition arrangement are,however, subject to several serious disadvantages Which do not existwith respect 5 to magneto ignition such, for example, as the operationof the starting motor when the engine is cold and sti occasioning a verysevere drain on the battery, and causing an extreme drop in itspotential, which results in Weak and ineffective ignition sparking,which under many conditions is insufficient to start the engine. Magnetoignition, in conjunction with batteries for operating the startingmotor, remedies this situation, and secures several other advantages.With a magneto, having a sufliciently. low coming-in speed, instantignition sparking is obtained incident to the operation' of the startingmotor and independently of the potential condition'of the battery..However, due to the factthat the automobile manufacturers havecompletely adopted the `battery and coil electrical systems, noprovision ismade in the great bulk of present day standard automobilesfor the mounting or operation of the magneto. On the other hand,standardized arrangements for the mounting and operation of distributingand timing devices for high tension coil ignition are universallyemployed. -The principal object of the present invention is theprovision of a novel ignition device in which a magneto constitutes theIsource of electrical energy and which may be installed in present daystandard automoblles, as accessory apparatus, in substitution for thecustomary ignition timing and distributing device, and which may be usedin such installation to secure all of the advantages of'magneto ignitionwithout curtailment of the-utility of the battery system, withoutcomplication inthe matter of driving connections, withoutrequiringspecial space accommodations or material increasein weight.

Another object is the improvement in magneto construction'in thedirection of securing lncreased eiiiciency with decreased size, andcompactness of construction in conjunction with durability and certaintyof operation.

R Another object is the obtaining of accurate and selective timing ofthe magneto with respect to the engine operation while maintaining thegenerating eiiiciency of the magneto at a uniformly high level.

Other and further objects of the invention will be pointed outhereinafter, indicated in the appended claims, or will be obvious to oneskilled in theart 'upon an understanding of the present disclosure.

For the purpose of this application I have elected to disclose` herein asingle structural embodiment of the invention, but it is to beunderstood that the same is present-ed for the lpurpose of illustrationonly and hence is not to be accorded any interpretation which might havethe eil'ect of limiting the invention which I claim, short of its trueand most comprehensive scope in the art.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification,

Fig. l is a sectional elevation of a device embodying features of theinvention, same being taken on a diameter;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken substantially on line 2.2 of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 3 is ya part sectional elevationl taken on a diameter approximatelyat right angles to Fig. 1. l

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section taken sub stantially along a planeperpendicular to the section of F ig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective of a lamination stack.

In conjunction with the conventional battery and coil ignition systemsgenerally used on motor vehicles, provision is made for the mounting ofa timing and distributing device on a vertical axis and in a suitablesupport and bearing'- upon the engine casing or generator frame, whereitis interposed between the induction coil and the ignition plugs. Theusual distributing and timing device is drivenV at cam-shaft speed,either from the cam shaft or from the generator shaft. Throughutilization of the present invention,

- an instrument may be provided which may be installed in the usual S.A. E. standard mount- `ings of the typical' distributing and timingldevice, and operated by the usual driving con-,

' tribution thereof to the ignition plugs. Thus a vehicle equipped withthe customary generator and battery electrical system maybe afforded theadvantagesof magneto ignition without the addition of special mountingprovisions or driving connections without inappropriate utilization ofspace and Without 4interference with or detriment to any of theassociated apparatus. 'i

The `usual timing and distributing device is of generally cylindricalform and is-mounted on a Vertical axis in rather intimate relation-Iship with the engine or the generator, usually at the end of the latterand at the side of the engine, and it is driven by a vertical shaftextending from the bottom of the device.' The provision of a magnetosusceptible of installation in the place of the timing and distributingdevice involves a considerable problem,

. due to the limitations as to size and arrangement which are imposed byits location as above indicated. The present invention provides aninstrument which meets the requirements as to size and structural, formand Iwhich possesses the eiiiciency requisite for yoffthe distributingand timing devices customarily supplied as a part of the electricalequipment of an. automobile. This is usually mounted on a portion of thegenerator frame v /or thelengine casing in a selected association with ashaft 11, customarily the generator shaft or the cam shaft, by which thedistributing and tilning devices are driven. My device includes themounting quill 12, which conforms to the standard characteristics of acustomary timing and distributing device in that it is adapted to fit astandard mounting fcircular cross section and disposed coaxially withthe quill 12. At its upper extremity casing 16 supports the casing bodymember 19, which is made of insulating material, such as bakelite, theconnection between the portions 16 and 19 being made by means of a ring20 cast in the body portion 19 and attached to the portion 16 by screws.The body portion 19 is preferably circular in cross section and ismounted eoaxially with the casing portion 16. Itis formed with an axialcavity of varying width and contour for accommodation of the rotorparts. 'A lower ball-bearing 21 is mounted in the lower portion of thecasing portion 16, and an upper ball-bearing 22 is mounted in the cavityof the body member 19. These bearings support the rotor, which includesya permanent magnet 24 ofl the horseshoe type, which is housed within thecasing members 16 and 19 with 'its poles directed the symbol S. Thepoles carry laminations 25 which lie at right angles to the rotor axis,the like poles being connected by cross lamina-l tions. The magnet withits laminations is mounted between the end pieces 26 and 27 ofnon-magnetic material, which are clamped upon it by means of anaxially-disposed screw 28, likewise of non-magnetic material.` The endpieces 26 and ,27 support the rotor upon the bearings 21 and 22 so thatthe magnet will rotate on the axis of the device. The actuating shaft 29extends through the quill 12 and is connected at its upper end to theend-piece 26, preferably 4with sufficient lateral play in the connectionto compensate for any misalignment vof the shaft and rotor bearings. Atits lower end the shaft carries a suitable gear 30 for operativeengagement with a driving element 31 on the shaft 11. through the mediumof which the shaft 29 will be rotatedat the speed of the shaft 11. Theupper end-piece 27 carries the circuit-breaker cam 32 for rotation inthe kcircuit-breaker cavity 34 of the body portion 19, and upon thebreaker cam is carried the distributer 35 disposed for rotation inassociation with thewall ofthe axial body cavity. The distributer has anaxial high tension contact 35, from which a conductor 36, which isimbedded in ever, Where imbedded in the material of the the distributer,leads to the distributer point body member 19, the laminations arediverted 37. It Will be observed, therefore, that the laterally so that,Where exposed in the rotor rotor carries the distributer and thecircuitcavity, their margins are presented at right breaker cam forrotation With it on a vertical angles to the rotor axis and parallel tothe axis at cam-shaft speed. margins of the rotor laminations. By a lat-The stator is carried on the body portion 19 eral deflection of thelaminations the inducof the casing and comprises,Y elements in the ytion areas or air-gap surfaces 38a, thus.

forin of lamination stacks 38 extending longiformed by their exposedmargins, ma be distudinally of the rotor axis and having their posed inthe proper angular ielations iip with lower portions moulded in thematerial of the respect to thev rotor axis to permit magneticbodymember-19. The elements38 areconnectco-operation of one ofthem Witha negative ed at their upper ends by the laminated core rotor area'while the other has magnetic co- 39, upon which is Wound the primary 40and operation with a positive rotor area. In the the secondary'41 of aninduction coil, which embodiment illustrated it Will be seen thatelements are-diagramlnatically illustrated in the laminated rotorinduction areas 25a are F ig. 1. These elements, together With aconarranged in quartering or 90O relationship ldenser 42, Which isconnected across the coil and that the stator induction areas 38a'are40, are enclosed ina suitable envelope 44 supseparated by a like angulardistance. Hence, ported above the rotor. These coils are there Will be achange of flux in the stator grounded at one end, as at g,\vhile theother upon movement of the rotor through each end 4()a of the primaryleads to a conductor 90. In operation of the device, the iux in- 45Which is imbedded in the body member (see duced in the stator elementsand the connect- Figs. 2 and 4), and the other end of the se'cing core39 by the action of the rotor magnet, ondary. leads to the contact brush46 Whichl incident to its rotation, induces an E. M. F. rides upon thehigh Atension contact 35. in primary coil 40, the resulting current be-Within the circuit-breaker cavity 34 of the ing short-circuited throughthe circuit-breakbody portion, the circuit-breaker lever 47 is ing lever47 while the contacts 49 and 50 are mounted on its pivot48. -Thecircuit-breaker closed.` As this current reaches its highest levercarries the movable contact 49 arranged quantity, the cam 32, rotatingWith'the rotor, for co-operation with the stationaryv contact operatesthe circuit-breaking lever 47 to in- 50 which is grounded. A spring 51urges cirterrupt the primary current. As a result, a cuit-breaker lever47 tok close the contacts and qhigh tension impulse is -induced in thesecondto ride the circuit-breaker cam 32. Through ary'41 and transmittedthrough the brush 46 the medium of this 4spring 51 the circuitandcontact35 to the electrode 37. Incident .breaker lever is electricallyconnected with to the rotation of the rotor, the contact 37 has 1 theimbedded conductor 45.' A short-circuitat that time been brought intoco-operation ing conductor'59l leads from the conductor with one of thedistributing electrodes 5 4,

45 to a terminal 53', to which lis attached the so that the discharge otcoil 41 is delivered to Wire to the magnetosvvitch'vvhich is used tosuch electrode and from it carried through .short-circuit thezdevice.The design and the the conductors 55 andA 56 tothe spark plug mountingofthe circuit-breaker lever, "the connection. It will be-observed thatwith spring 51 and contact l50 are such that the the rotor operating latcam-shaft speed, there arrangement is reversible, so that the lever willbe two discharges duringeaeh revolution maybe mounted on either side odthe rotor of the engine crank-shaft, which is the reqaxis, thus adaptingthe device kfor rotation uisite n'umber yfor that period of theoperain'either direction. Distributed ,about the tion of a four cylinderfour-cycle engine.

l taxis of 'the rotor and 'mounted onthe body Upon the succeedingreyolution of the engine member -19 for co-operation with the movablecrank-shaft, which is synchronized With the electrode 37, are aplurality of electrodes 54 succeeding halt1 revolution of tle magneto'forming the distributing. terminals.' These rotor, the' ignitiondischarges Will be distribl the length of the elements'38 thelamin'ations are arranged at the proper angular spacing' -utedto the twocylinders which were not'red abpl the IOOI' XS OI CO-operation with' theduring the preceding crank-shaft revolution. moving electrode 37 at thedesired intervals, The adjustment of the timing of the magneto and areconnected respectively by lmbedded operation with respect to the cyclesof the enconductors 55l With the piercino' fscrews', vrgine isaccomplished by the rotary adjust- 'Ch 0f ,WhCh S arrangedtO'mlelectrical ment of the casing uponthe mounting disk contact'witlr aconductor disposed in an MSO-14.` This varies the time of the magnetodisfrom to the proper .ignition plu g l .A By reference to Flgs. 1, 3and 5, it will be` J ance ofthe magneto in any respect, as the re-Aobserved that through the mayor portion of lationship of the statorinduction areas to thereinextend 'parallel to the rotor axis. In so thatthe break comes at the K time of maxithe lower .portions of the elementsg38,-how mumiux.

ciad terminal seat 57 and leading therecharge with respect to the engineoperation, i but it does not alter the generating performthecircuit-breaking lever remains the same, a

By virtue of the improvements constituting my invention a magneto may bebuilt for installation Within the relatively small coinpass ordinarilyallotted to the location ofthe customary timing and distributing device,and may be operated by the driving connections customarily employed foroperating the latter'. The wai-ping and deflection of the statorlaminations as contemplated by my invention may be accomplished invarious ways, as by actual stamping of thel laminations into that form,or by a sectional construction, and permits the location of the statorinduction areas in the desired angular relationship with respect to therotor axis While presenting the laminations to the rotor in arelationship effective to reduce iron losses. The warped laminationparts may be arranged with their top surfaces in horizontal position, orin a sloping position as illustrated, the latter being effective toincrease the vertical extent of the induction areas formed by theexposededges. It will be observed that by the provision of a cover 58,all operating parts are effectively housed and protected from water anddust. The installation is accomplished simply `by inserting the mountingquill and vthe drive-shaft, equipped with a suitable gear, into thestandard mounting and securing it thereby means of the set-screwcustomarily employed for retention of la distributing and timing device,

and making the necessary electrical connec-v tions between the magnetoterminals and the w @Giving 3, quill 0f an ignition distributor, in-

vof the rotor.

2. A magneto comprising a casing havingv ignition plugs of the engine. L

Ielaim: c 1. A'magneto comprising a magnetic roytor mounted foroperation on a vertical axis,

an axial drive shaft at the bottom of the rotor, a magnetic statorhaving pole elements disposedon opposite sides of the rotor andextending longitudinally thereof, said stator elements beingcross-connected above the rotor, and distributing and circuit-breakingdevices carried by the rotor in the space between said pole elements fordelivering a plurality of discharges during each revolution a mountingat its bottom, a magnetic rotor j ournaled on the casing for rotation ona vertical axis, a drive-shaft for the rotor extending axially throughthe bottom of the casing, magnetic stator elements connected above therotor and extending longitudinally thereof in the casing forco-operation. with the rotor on different sides of its axis, acircuit-breaker and a plurality of distributer electrodes mounted on thecasing, and a breakercam andy distributer arm carried by the rotorbetween said stator elements for co-operation therewith. s l

3. In magneto construction, the combination with a rotor mounted forrotation on a vertical axis, of stator .lamination stacks dis-I posed atopposite sides of the rotor and havingthe laminations extending for themost part longitudinally of the rotor axis, the lower portions of saidlamination stacks being extended circumferentially of the rotor axis andpresenting the margins of the laminations for co-operation with therotor.

4. In magneto construction, the combination with a rotor mounted forrotation on a vertical axis, of a casing member associated with therotor and lamination stacks supportedbri the casing member at oppositesides of the rotor, the upper portions of said stacks extendinglongitudinally of the rotor axis and the lower portions of the stacksextending from said upper portions in directions circumferentially ofthe rotor and presenting the margins of the laminations for co-operationwith Ithe rotor.

5. In magneto construction, the combination of a casing, a rotorjournaled thereon, a mounting at the bottom of the casing for supportingthe same with-the'rotor axis vertical, laminated magnetic statorelements longitudinally disposed at opposite sides of the rotor, a coremember connecting said elements above the rotor-axis, andllateralextensions at the lower portion of the stator elements affordinginduction areas disposed for co-operation with the rotor out ofalignment with the stator elements.

6. In combination with a combustion engine member having a quillmounting for rccluding a shaft foridriving' said distributor,

and means for'locking said distributor in' said magneto having a quillsupport held' Within said mounting, a substantially cylindrical casingupwardly extending from said support`, a shaft adapted to establish acoupling connection with said driving shaft and A extending verticallythrough the -center of said quill, a permanent magnet having a bodymember secured to said shaft and upwardly'projecting pole membersextending parallel to said shaft, magnetic laminations on said polemembers horizontally mounted said pole surfaces defining a rotarysurface of less diameter than the surface ofl said body member, amagnetoarmature conipolar extensions extending longitudinally tudinalaxis of said extensions, and a breakparallel to said rotor axis, thepole surfaces of said polar extensions being circumferentially offsetagainst the longitudinal axis of said extensions.

7. In combination with a combustion eny gine member having a quillmounting for receiving a quill of an ignition distributor, including ashaft for driving saiddistributor, and means for locking saiddistributor in said mounting, said distributor being determinedlyrotatable in said mounting forA timing the ignition with relation to theoperation of said shaft, of a magneto ignition device interchangeablymountable in said mounting in. place of said ignition distributor, saidmagneto havingra quill support held. i

within said mounting, a casing upwardly extending from said support, ashaft adapted to establish a coupling connection with said driving shaftand extending vertically through the center of said quill, a permanentmagnet having a body member secured to said shaft and pole members, amagneto armature comprising a laminated core member supported on saidcasing, and laminated polar extensions from said core member terminatingin pole surfaces cooperating with said magnet poles, said core memberbeing disposed centrally above said rotor and said polar extensionsextending longitudinally parallel to said rotor axis, the pole surfaceslof said polar extensions being circumferentially oifset against thelongitudinal axis of said extensions.

8. In combination with a combustion engine member having a quillmounting for receiving a quill of an ignition distributor, including ashaft for driving said distributor, and means for locking saiddistributor in said mounting, said distributor being determinedlyTrotatable in said mounting foI` timing the ignition with relation to theoperation of said shaft, of a magneto ignition device interchangeablymountable in said mounting in place of said ignition distributor, saidmagneto having a quill support held within said mounting, a casingupwardly extending from said support and rotatable therein, a shaftadapted to establish a coupling connection with said driving shaft andextending vertically through the center of said quill, a permanentmagnet having a body member secured to said shaft and pole members, amagneto armature comprising a laminated core member supported on saidcasing, laminated polar extensions from said core member terminating inpole surfaces cooperating with said magnet poles, said core member beingdisposed centrally above said rotor and said polar extensions extendinglongitudinally parallel to said rotor axis, the pole surfaces of saidpolar extensions being circumferentially offset against the longier anddischarge distributor on said rotor.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

LAURENCE R. WILDER.

